"The Holy Prophet"


In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
"11.1": Alif Lam Ra (This is) a Book, whose verses are made decisive, then are they made plain, from the Wise, All-aware:
"11.2": That you shall not serve (any) but Allah; surely I am a warner for you from Him and a giver of good news,
"11.3": And you that ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him; He will provide you with a goodly provision to an appointed term and bestow His grace on every one endowed with grace, and if you turn back, then surely I fear for you the chastisement of a great day.
"11.4": To Allah is your return, and He has power over all things.
"11.5": Now surely they fold up their breasts that they may conceal (their enmity) from Him; now surely, when they use their garments as a covering, He knows what they conceal and what they make public; surely He knows what is in the breasts.
"11.6": And there is no animal in the earth but on Allah is the sustenance of it, and He knows its resting place and its depository all (things) are in a manifest book.
"11.7": And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods -- and His dominion (extends) on the water -- that He might manifest to you, which of you is best in action, and if you say, surely you shall be raised up after death, those who disbelieve would certainly say: This is nothing but clear magic.
"11.8": And if We hold back from them the punishment until a stated period of time, they will certainly say: What prevents it? Now surely on the day when it will come to them, it shall not be averted from them and that which they scoffed at shall beset them.
"11.9": And if We make man taste mercy from Us, then take it off from him, most surely he is despairing, ungrateful.
"11.10": And if We make him taste a favor after distress has afflicted him, he will certainly say: The evils are gone away from me. Most surely he is exulting, boasting;
"11.11": Except those who are patient and do good, they shall have forgiveness and a great reward.
"11.12": Then, it may be that you will give up part of what is revealed to you and your breast will become straightened by it because they say: Why has not a treasure been sent down upon him or an angel come with him? You are only a warner; and Allah is custodian over all things.
"11.13": Or, do they say: He has forged it. Say: Then bring ten forged chapters like it and call upon whom you can besides Allah, if you are truthful.
"11.14": But if they do not answer you, then know that it is revealed by Allah's knowledge and that there is no god but He; will you then submit?
"11.15": Whoever desires this world's life and its finery, We will pay them in full their deeds therein, and they shall not be made to. suffer loss in respect of them.
"11.16": These are they for whom there is nothing but fire in the hereafter, and what they wrought in it shall go for nothing, and vain is what they do.
"11.17": Is he then who has with him clear proof from his Lord, and a witness from Him recites it and before it (is) the Book of Musa, a guide and a mercy? These believe in it; and whoever of the (different) parties disbelieves in it, surely it is the truth from your Lord, but most men do not believe.
"11.18": And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah? These shall be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses shall say: These are they who lied against their Lord. Now surely the curse of Allah is on the unjust.
"11.19": Who turn away from the path of Allah and desire to make it crooked; and they are disbelievers in the hereafter.
"11.20": These shall not escape in the earth, nor shall they have any guardians besides Allah; the punishment shall be doubled for them, they could not bear to hear and they did not see.
"11.21": These are they who have lost their souls, and what they forged is gone from them.
"11.22": Truly in the hereafter they are the greatest losers.
"11.23": Surely (as to) those who believe and do good and humble themselves to their Lord, these are the dwellers of the garden, in it they will abide.
"11.24": The likeness of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seeing and the hearing: are they equal in condition? Will you not then mind?
"11.25": And certainly We sent Nuh to his people: Surely I am a plain warner for you:
"11.26": That you shall not serve any but Allah, surely I fear for you the punishment of a painful day.
"11.27": But the chiefs of those who disbelieved from among his people said: We do not consider you but a mortal like ourselves, and we do not see any have followed you but those who are the meanest of us at first thought and we do not see in you any excellence over us; nay, we deem you liars.
"11.28": He said: O my people! tell me if I have with me clear proof from my Lord, and He has granted me mercy from Himself and it has been made obscure to you; shall we constrain you to (accept) it while you are averse from it?
"11.29": And, O my people! I ask you not for wealth in return for it; my reward is only with Allah and I am not going to drive away those who believe; surely they shall meet their Lord, but I consider you a people who are ignorant:
"11.30": And, O my people! who will help me against Allah if I drive them away? Will you not then mind?
"11.31": And I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah and I do not know the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel, nor do I say about those whom your eyes hold in mean estimation (that) Allah will never grant them (any) good -- Allah knows best what is in their souls -- for then most surely I should be of the unjust.
"11.32": They said: O Nuh! indeed you have disputed with us and lengthened dispute with us, therefore bring to us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones.
"11.33": He said: Allah only will bring it to you if He please, and you will not escape:
"11.34": And if I intend to give you good advice, my advice will not profit you if Allah intended that He should leave you to go astray; He is your Lord, and to Him shall you be returned.
"11.35": Or do they say: He has forged it? Say: If I have forged it, on me is my guilt, and I am clear of that of which you are guilty.
"11.36": And it was revealed to Nuh: That none of your people will believe except those who have already believed, therefore do not grieve at what they do:
"11.37": And make the ark before Our eyes and (according to) Our revelation, and do not speak to Me in respect of those who are unjust; surely they shall be drowned.
"11.38": And he began to make the ark; and whenever the chiefs from among his people passed by him they laughed at him. He said: If you laugh at us, surely we too laugh at you as you laugh (at us).
"11.39": So shall you know who it is on whom will come a chastisement which will disgrace him, and on whom will lasting chastisement come down.
"11.40": Until when Our command came and water came forth from the valley, We said: Carry in it two of all things, a pair, and your own family -- except those against whom the word has already gone forth, and those who believe. And there believed not with him but a few.
"11.41": And he said: Embark in it, in the name of Allah be its sailing and its anchoring; most surely my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
"11.42": And it moved on with them amid waves like mountains; and Nuh called out to his son, and he was aloof: O my son! embark with us and be not with the unbelievers.
"11.43": He said: I will betake myself for refuge to a mountain that shall protect me from the water. Nuh said: There is no protector today from Allah's punishment but He Who has mercy; and a wave intervened between them, so he was of the drowned.
"11.44": And it was said: O earth, swallow down your water, and O cloud, clear away; and the water was made to abate and the affair was decided, and the ark rested on the Judi, and it was said: Away with the unjust people.
"11.45": And Nuh cried out to his Lord and said: My Lord! surely my son is of my family, and Thy promise is surely true, and Thou art the most just of the judges.
"11.46": He said: O Nuh! surely he is not of your family; surely he is (the doer of) other than good deeds, therefore ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge; surely I admonish you lest you may be of the ignorant
"11.47": He said: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from asking Thee that of which I have no knowledge; and if Thou shouldst not forgive me and have mercy on me, I should be of the losers.
"11.48": It was said: O Nuh! descend with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people from among those who are with you, and there shall be nations whom We will afford provisions, then a painful punishment from Us shall afflict them.
"11.49": These are announcements relating to the unseen which We reveal to you, you did not know them -- (neither) you nor your people -- before this; therefore be patient; surely the end is for those who guard (against evil).
"11.50": And to Ad (We sent) their brother Hud. He said: O my people! serve Allah, you have no god other than He; you are nothing but forgers (of lies).
"11.51": O my people! I do not ask of you any reward for it; my reward is only with Him Who created me; do you not then understand?
"11.52": And, O my people! ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him; He will send on you clouds pouring down abundance of rain and add strength to your strength, and do not turn back guilty.
"11.53": They said: O Hud! you have not brought to us any clear argument and we are not going to desert our gods for your word, and we are not believers in you:
"11.54": We cannot say aught but that some of our gods have smitten you with evil. He said: Surely I call Allah to witness, and do you bear witness too, that I am clear of what you associate (with Allah).
"11.55": Besides Him, therefore scheme against me all together; then give me no respite:
"11.56": Surely I rely on Allah, my Lord and your Lord; there is no living creature but He holds it by its forelock; surely my Lord is on the right path.
"11.57": But if you turn back, then indeed I have delivered to you the message with which I have been sent to you, and my Lord will bring another people in your place, and you cannot do Him any harm; surely my Lord is the Preserver of all things.
"11.58": And when Our decree came to pass, We delivered Hud and those who believed with him with mercy from Us, and We delivered them from a hard chastisement.
"11.59": And this was Ad; they denied the communications of their Lord, and disobeyed His apostles and followed the bidding of every insolent opposer (of truth).
"11.60": And they were overtaken by curse in this world and on the resurrection day; now surely Ad disbelieved in their Lord; now surely, away with Ad, the people of Hud.
"11.61": And to Samood (We sent) their brother Salih. He said: O my people! serve Allah, you have no god other than He; He brought you into being from the earth, and made you dwell in it, therefore ask forgiveness of Him, then turn to Him; surely my Lord is Nigh, Answering.
"11.62": They said: O Salih! surely you were one amongst us in whom great expectations were placed before this; do you (now) forbid us from worshiping what our fathers worshiped? And as to that which you call us to, most surely we are in disquieting doubt.
"11.63": He said: O my people! tell me if I have clear proof from my Lord and He has granted to me mercy from Himself -- who will then help me against Allah if I disobey Him? Therefore you do not add to me other than loss:
"11.64": And, O my people! this will be (as) Allah's she-camel for you, a sign; therefore leave her to pasture on Allah's earth and do not touch her with evil, for then a near chastisement will overtake you.
"11.65": But they slew her, so he said: Enjoy yourselves in your abode for three days, that is a promise not to be belied.
"11.66": So when Our decree came to pass, We delivered Salih and those who believed with him by mercy from Us, and (We saved them) from the disgrace of that day; surely your Lord is the Strong, the Mighty.
"11.67": And the rumbling overtook those who were unjust, so they became motionless bodies in their abodes,
"11.68": As though they had never dwelt in them; now surely did Samood disbelieve in their Lord; now surely, away with Samood.
"11.69": And certainly Our messengers came to Ibrahim with good news. They said: Peace. Peace, said he, and he made no delay in bringing a roasted calf.
"11.70": But when he saw that their hands were not extended towards it, he deemed them strange and conceived fear of them. . They said: Fear not, surely we are sent to Lut's people.
"11.71": And his wife was standing (by), so she laughed, then We gave her the good news of Ishaq and after Ishaq of (a son's son) Yaqoub.
"11.72": She said: O wonder! shall I bear a son when I am an extremely old woman and this my husband an extremely old man? Most surely this is a wonderful thing.
"11.73": They said: Do you wonder at Allah's bidding? The mercy of Allah and His blessings are on you, O people of the house, surely He is Praised, Glorious.
"11.74": So when fear had gone away from Ibrahim and good news came to him, he began to plead with Us for Lut's people.
"11.75": Most surely Ibrahim was forbearing, tender-hearted, oft-returning (to Allah):
"11.76": O Ibrahim! leave off this, surely the decree of your Lord has come to pass, and surely there must come to them a chastisement that cannot be averted.
"11.77": And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved for them, and he lacked strength to protect them, and said: This is a hard day.
"11.78": And his people came to him, (as if) rushed on towards him, and already they did evil deeds. He said: O my people! these are my daughters -- they are purer for you, so guard against (the punishment of) Allah and do not disgrace me with regard to my guests; is there not among you one right-minded man?
"11.79": They said: Certainly you know that we have no claim on your daughters, and most surely you know what we desire.
"11.80": He said: Ah! that I had power to suppress you, rather I shall have recourse to a strong support.
"11.81": They said: O Lut! we are the messengers of your Lord; they shall by no means reach you; so remove your followers in a part of the night -- and let none of you turn back -- except your wife, for surely whatsoever befalls them shall befall her; surely their appointed time is the morning; is not the morning nigh?
"11.82": So when Our decree came to pass, We turned them upside down and rained down upon them stones, of what had been decreed, one after another.
"11.83": Marked (for punishment) with your Lord and it is not far off from the unjust.
"11.84": And to Madyan (We sent) their brother Shu'aib. He said: O my people! serve Allah, you have no god other than He, and do not give short measure and weight: surely I see you in prosperity and surely I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing day.
"11.85": And, O my people! give full measure and weight fairly, and defraud not men their things, and do not act corruptly in the land, making mischief:
"11.86": What remains with Allah is better for you if you are believers, and I am not a keeper over you.
"11.87": They said: O Shu'aib! does your prayer enjoin you that we should forsake what our fathers worshiped or that we should not do what we please with regard to our property? Forsooth you are the forbearing, the right-directing one.
"11.88": He said: O my people! have you considered if I have a clear proof from my Lord and He has given me a goodly sustenance from Himself, and I do not desire that in opposition to you I should betake myself to that which I forbid you: I desire nothing but reform so far as I am able, and with none but Allah is the direction of my affair to a right issue; on Him do I rely and to Him do I turn:
"11.89": And, O my people! let not opposition to me make you guilty so that there may befall you the like of what befell the people of Nuh, or the people of Hud, or the people of Salih, nor are the people of Lut far off from you;
"11.90": And ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him; surely my Lord is Merciful, Loving-kind.
"11.91": They said: O Shu'aib! we do not understand much of what you say and most surely we see you to be weak among us, and were it not for your family we would surely stone you, and you are not mighty against us.
"11.92": He said: O my people! is my family more esteemed by you than Allah? And you neglect Him as a thing cast behind your back; surely my Lord encompasses what you do:
"11.93": And, O my people! act according to your ability, I too am acting; you will come to know soon who it is on whom will light the punishment that will disgrace him and who it is that is a liar, and watch, surely I too am watching with you.
"11.94": And when Our decree came to pass We delivered Shu'aib, and those who believed with him by mercy from Us, and the rumbling overtook those who were unjust so they became motionless bodies in their abodes,
"11.95": As though they had never dwelt in them; now surely perdition overtook Madyan as had perished Samood.
"11.96": And certainly We sent Musa with Our communications and a clear authority,
"11.97": To Firon and his chiefs, but they followed the bidding of Firon, and Firon's bidding was not right-directing.
"11.98": He shall lead his people on the resurrection day, and bring them down to the fire; and evil the place to which they are brought.
"11.99": And they are overtaken by curse in this (world), and on the resurrection day, evil the gift which shall be given.
"11.100": This is an account of (the fate of) the towns which We relate to you; of them are some that stand and (others) mown down.
"11.101": And We did not do them injustice, but they were unjust to themselves, so their gods whom they called upon besides Allah did not avail them aught when the decree of your Lord came to pass; and they added but to their ruin.
"11.102": And such is the punishment of your Lord when He punishes the towns while they are unjust; surely His punishment is painful, severe.
"11.103": Most surely there is a sign in this for him who fears the chastisement of the hereafter; this is a day on which the people shall be gathered together and this is a day that shall be witnessed.
"11.104": And We do not delay it but to an appointed term.
"11.105": On the day when it shall come, no soul shall speak except with His permission, then (some) of them shall be unhappy and (others) happy.
"11.106": So as to those who are unhappy, they shall be in the fire; for them shall be sighing and groaning in it:
"11.107": Abiding therein so long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please; surely your Lord is the mighty doer of what He intends.
"11.108": And as to those who are made happy, they shall be in the garden, abiding in it as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please; a gift which shall never be cut off.
"11.109": Therefore be not in doubt as to what these worship; they do not worship but as their fathers worshiped before; and most surely We will pay them back in full their portion undiminished.
"11.110": And certainly We gave the book to Musa, but it was gone against; and had not a word gone forth from your Lord, the matter would surely have been decided between them; and surely they are in a disquieting doubt about it.
"11.111": And your Lord will most surely pay back to all their deeds in full; surely He is aware of what they do.
"11.112": Continue then in the right way as you are commanded, as also he who has turned (to Allah) with you, and be not inordinate (O men!), surely He sees what you do.
"11.113": And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians besides Allah, then you shall not be helped.
"11.114": And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the night; surely good deeds take away evil deeds this is a reminder to the mindful.
"11.115": And be patient, for surely Allah does not waste the reward of the good-doers.
"11.116": But why were there not among the generations before you those possessing understanding, who should have forbidden the making of mischief in the earth, except a few of those whom We delivered from among them? And those who were unjust went after what they are made to enjoy of plenty, and they were guilty.
"11.117": And it did not beseem your Lord to have destroyed the towns tyrannously, while their people acted well.
"11.118": And if your Lord had pleased He would certainly have made people a single nation, and they shall continue to differ.
"11.119": Except those on whom your Lord has mercy; and for this did He create them; and the word of your Lord is fulfilled: Certainly I will fill hell with the jinn and the men, all together.
"11.120": And all we relate to you of the accounts of the apostles is to strengthen your heart therewith; and in this has come to you the truth and an admonition, and a reminder to the believers.
"11.121": And say to those who do not believe: Act according to your state; surely we too are acting.
"11.122": And wait; surely we are waiting also.
"11.123": And Allah's is the unseen in the heavens and the earth, and to Him is returned the whole of the affair; therefore serve Him and rely on Him, and your Lord is not heedless of what you do.

"Yusuf"


In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
"12.1": Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book that makes (things) manifest.
"12.2": Surely We have revealed it -- an Arabic Quran -- that you may understand.
"12.3": We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Quran, though before this you were certainly one of those who did not know.
"12.4": When Yusuf said to his father: O my father! surely I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon -- I saw them making obeisance to me.
"12.5": He said: O my son! do not relate your vision to your brothers, lest they devise a plan against you; surely the Shaitan is an open enemy to man.
"12.6": And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of sayings and make His favor complete to you and to the children of Yaqoub, as He made it complete before to your fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq; surely your Lord is Knowing, Wise.
"12.7": Certainly in Yusuf and his brothers there are signs for the inquirers.
"12.8": When they said: Certainly Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we, though we are a (stronger) company; most surely our father is in manifest error:
"12.9": Slay Yusuf or cast him (forth) into some land, so that your father's regard may be exclusively for you, and after that you may be a righteous people.
"12.10": A speaker from among them said: Do not slay Yusuf, and cast him down into the bottom of the pit if you must do (it), (so that) some of the travellers may pick him up.
"12.11": They said: O our father! what reason have you that you do not trust in us with respect to Yusuf? And most surely we are his sincere well-wishers:
"12.12": Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and sport, and surely we will guard him well.
"12.13": He said: Surely it grieves me that you should take him off, and I fear lest the wolf devour him while you are heedless of him.
"12.14": They said: Surely if the wolf should devour him notwithstanding that we are a (strong) company, we should then certainly be losers.
"12.15": So when they had gone off with him and agreed that they should put him down at the bottom of the pit, and We revealed to him: You will most certainly inform them of this their affair while they do not perceive.
"12.16": And they came to their father at nightfall, weeping.
"12.17": They said: O our father! surely we went off racing and left Yusuf by our goods, so the wolf devoured him, and you will not believe us though we are truthful.
"12.18": And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. He said: Nay, your souls have made the matter light for you, but patience is good and Allah is He Whose help is sought for against what you describe.
"12.19": And there came travellers and they sent their water-drawer and he let down his bucket. He said: O good news! this is a youth; and they concealed him as an article of merchandise, and Allah knew what they did.
"12.20": And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver, and they showed no desire for him.
"12.21": And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: Give him an honorable abode, maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus did We establish Yusuf in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of sayings; and Allah is the master of His affair, but most people do not know.
"12.22": And when he had attained his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge: and thus do We reward those who do good.
"12.23": And she in whose house he was sought to make himself yield (to her), and she made fast the doors and said: Come forward. He said: I seek Allah's refuge, surely my Lord made good my abode: Surely the unjust do not prosper.
"12.24": And certainly she made for him, and he would have made for her, were it not that he had seen the manifest evidence of his Lord; thus (it was) that We might turn away from him evil and indecency, surely he was one of Our sincere servants.
"12.25": And they both hastened to the door, and she rent his shirt from behind and they met her husband at the door. She said: What is the punishment of him who intends evil to your wife except imprisonment or a painful chastisement?
"12.26": He said: She sought to make me yield (to her); and a witness of her own family bore witness: If his shirt is rent from front, she speaks the truth and he is one of the liars:
"12.27": And if his shirt is rent from behind, she tells a lie and he is one of the truthful.
"12.28": So when he saw his shirt rent from behind, he said: Surely it is a guile of you women; surely your guile is great:
"12.29": O Yusuf! turn aside from this; and (O my wife)! ask forgiveness for your fault, surely you are one of the wrong-doers.
"12.30": And women in the city said: The chiefs wife seeks her slave to yield himself (to her), surely he has affected her deeply with (his) love; most surely we see her in manifest error.
"12.31": So when she heard of their sly talk she sent for them and prepared for them a repast, and gave each of them a knife, and said (to Yusuf): Come forth to them. So when they saw him, they deemed him great, and cut their hands (in amazement), and said: Remote is Allah (from imperfection); this is not a mortal; this is but a noble angel.
"12.32": She said: This is he with respect to whom you blamed me, and certainly I sought his yielding himself (to me), but he abstained, and if he does not do what I bid him, he shall certainly be imprisoned, and he shall certainly be of those who are in a state of ignominy.
"12.33": He said: My Lord! the prison house is dearer to me than that to which they invite me; and if Thou turn not away their device from me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant.
"12.34": Thereupon his Lord accepted his prayer and turned away their guile from him; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
"12.35": Then it occurred to them after they had seen the signs that they should imprison him till a time.
"12.36": And two youths entered the prison with him. One of them said: I saw myself pressing wine. And the other said: I saw myself carrying bread on my head, of which birds ate. Inform us of its interpretation; surely we see you to be of the doers of good.
"12.37": He said: There shall not come to you the food with which you are fed, but I will inform you both of its interpretation before it comes to you; this is of what my Lord has taught me; surely I have forsaken the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and they are deniers of the hereafter:
"12.38": And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqoub; it beseems us not that we should associate aught with Allah; this is by Allah's grace upon us and on mankind, but most people do not give thanks:
"12.39": O my two mates of the prison! are sundry lords better or Allah the One, the Supreme?
"12.40": You do not serve besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent down any authority for them; judgment is only Allah's; He has commanded that you shall not serve aught but Him; this is the right religion but most people do not know:
"12.41": O my two mates of the prison! as for one of you, he shall give his lord to drink wine; and as for the other, he shall be crucified, so that the birds shall eat from his head, the matter is decreed concerning which you inquired.
"12.42": And he said to him whom he knew would be delivered of the two: Remember me with your lord; but the Shaitan caused him to forget mentioning (it) to his lord, so he remained in the prison a few years.
"12.43": And the king said: Surely I see seven fat kine which seven lean ones devoured; and seven green ears and (seven) others dry: O chiefs! explain to me my dream, if you can interpret the dream.
"12.44": They said: Confused dreams, and we do not know the interpretation of dreams.
"12.45": And of the two (prisoners) he who had found deliverance and remembered after a long time said: I will inform you of its interpretation, so let me go:
"12.46": Yusuf! O truthful one! explain to us seven fat kine which seven lean ones devoured, and seven green ears and (seven) others dry, that I may go back to the people so that they may know.
"12.47": He said: You shall sow for seven years continuously, then what you reap leave it in its ear except a little of which you eat.
"12.48": Then there shall come after that seven years of hardship which shall eat away all that you have beforehand laid up in store for them, except a little of what you shall have preserved:
"12.49": Then there will come after that a year in which people shall have rain and in which they shall press (grapes).
"12.50": And the king said: Bring him to me. So when the messenger came to him, he said: Go back to your lord and ask him, what is the case of the women who cut their hands; surely my Lord knows their guile.
"12.51": He said: How was your affair when you sought Yusuf to yield himself (to you)? They said: Remote is Allah (from imperfection), we knew of no evil on his part. The chief's wife said: Now has the truth become established: I sought him to yield himself (to me), and he is most surely of the truthful ones.
"12.52": This is that he might know that I have not been unfaithful to him in secret and that Allah does not guide the device of the unfaithful.
"12.53": And I do not declare myself free, most surely (man's) self is wont to command (him to do) evil, except such as my Lord has had mercy on, surely my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
"12.54": And the king said: Bring him to me, I will choose him for myself. So when he had spoken with him, he said: Surely you are in our presence today an honorable, a faithful one.
"12.55": He said: Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land, surely I am a good keeper, knowing well.
"12.56": And thus did We give to Yusuf power in the land -- he had mastery in it wherever he liked; We send down Our mercy on whom We please, and We do not waste the reward of those who do good.
"12.57": And certainly the reward of the hereafter is much better for those who believe and guard (against evil).
"12.58": And Yusuf's brothers came and went in to him, and he knew them, while they did not recognize him.
"12.59": And when he furnished them with their provision, he said: Bring to me a brother of yours from your father; do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of hosts?
"12.60": But if you do not bring him to me, you shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall you come near me.
"12.61": They said: We will strive to make his father yield in respect of him, and we are sure to do (it).
"12.62": And he said to his servants: Put their money into their bags that they may recognize it when they go back to their family, so that they may come back.
"12.63": So when they returned to their father, they said: O our father, the measure is withheld from us, therefore send with us our brother, (so that) we may get the measure, and we will most surely guard him.
"12.64": He said: I cannot trust in you with respect to him, except as I trusted in you with respect to his brother before; but Allah is the best Keeper, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful ones.
"12.65": And when they opened their goods, they found their money returned to them. They said: O our father! what (more) can we desire? This is our property returned to us, and we will bring corn for our family and guard our brother, and will have in addition the measure of a camel (load); this is an easy measure.
"12.66": He said: I will by no means send him with you until you give me a firm covenant in Allah's name that you will most certainly bring him back to me, unless you are completely surrounded. And when they gave him their covenant, he said: Allah is the One in Whom trust is placed as regards what we say.
"12.67": And he said: O my sons ! do not (all) enter by one gate and enter by different gates and I cannot avail you aught against Allah; judgment is only Allah's; on Him do I rely, and on Him let those who are reliant rely.
"12.68": And when they had entered as their father had bidden them, it did not avail them aught against Allah, but (it was only) a desire in the soul of Yaqoub which he satisfied; and surely he was possessed of knowledge because We had given him knowledge, but most people do not know.
"12.69": And when they went in to Yusuf. he lodged his brother with himself, saying: I am your brother, therefore grieve not at what they do.
"12.70": So when he furnished them with their provisions, (someone) placed the drinking cup in his brother's bag. Then a crier cried out: O caravan! you are most surely thieves.
"12.71": They said while they were facing them: What is it that you miss?
"12.72": They said: We miss the king's drinking cup, and he who shall bring it shall have a camel-load and I am responsible for it.
"12.73": They said: By Allah! you know for certain that we have not come to make mischief in the land, and we are not thieves.
"12.74": They said: But what shall be the requital of this, if you are liars?
"12.75": They said: The requital of this is that the person in whose bag it is found shall himself be (held for) the satisfaction thereof; thus do we punish the wrongdoers.
"12.76": So he began with their sacks before the sack of his brother, then he brought it out from his brother's sack. Thus did We plan for the sake of Yusuf; it was not (lawful) that he should take his brother under the king's law unless Allah pleased; We raise the degrees of whomsoever We please, and above every one possessed of knowledge is the All-knowing one.
"12.77": They said: If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them. He said: You are in an evil condition and Allah knows best what you state.
"12.78": They said: O chief! he has a father, a very old man, therefore retain one of us in his stead; surely we see you to be of the doers of good.
"12.79": He said: Allah protect us that we should seize other than him with whom we found our property, for then most surely we would be unjust.
"12.80": Then when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring privately together. The eldest of them said: Do you not know that your father took from you a covenant in Allah's name, and how you fell short of your duty with respect to Yusuf before? Therefore I will by no means depart from this land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me, and He is the best of the judges:
"12.81": Go back to your father and say: O our father! surely your son committed theft, and we do not bear witness except to what we have known, and we could not keep watch over the unseen:
"12.82": And inquire in the town in which we were and the caravan with which we proceeded, and most surely we are truthful.
"12.83": He (Yaqoub) said: Nay, your souls have made a matter light for you, so patience is good; maybe Allah will bring them all together to me; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise.
"12.84": And he turned away from them, and said: O my sorrow for Yusuf! and his eyes became white on account of the grief, and he was a repressor (of grief).
"12.85": They said: By Allah! you will not cease to remember Yusuf until you are a prey to constant disease or (until) you are of those who perish.
"12.86": He said: I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.
"12.87": O my sons! Go and inquire respecting Yusuf and his brother, and despair not of Allah's mercy; surely none despairs of Allah's mercy except the unbelieving people.
"12.88": So when they came in to him, they said: O chief! distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought scanty money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us; surely Allah rewards the charitable.
"12.89": He said: Do you know how you treated Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?
"12.90": They said: Are you indeed Yusuf? He said: I am Yusuf and this is my brother; Allah has indeed been gracious to us; surely he who guards (against evil) and is patient (is rewarded) for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good.
"12.91": They said: By Allah! now has Allah certainly chosen you over us, and we were certainly sinners.
"12.92": He said: (There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful.
"12.93": Take this my shirt and cast it on my father's face, he will (again) be able to see, and come to me with all your families.
"12.94": And when the caravan had departed, their father said: Most surely I perceive the greatness of Yusuf, unless you pronounce me to be weak in judgment.
"12.95": They said: By Allah, you are most surely in your old error.
"12.96": So when the bearer of good news came he cast it on his face, so forthwith he regained his sight. He said: Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?
"12.97": They said: O our father! ask forgiveness of our faults for us, surely we were sinners.
"12.98": He said: I will ask for you forgiveness from my Lord; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
"12.99": Then when they came in to Yusuf, he took his parents to lodge with him and said: Enter safe into Egypt, if Allah please.
"12.100": And he raised his parents upon the throne and they fell down in prostration before him, and he said: O my father! this is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true; and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after the Shaitan had sown dissensions between me and my brothers, surely my Lord is benignant to whom He pleases; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise.
"12.101": My Lord! Thou hast given me of the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of sayings: Originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my guardian in this world and the hereafter; make me die a muslim and join me with the good.
"12.102": This is of the announcements relating to the unseen (which) We reveal to you, and you were not with them when they resolved upon their affair, and they were devising plans.
"12.103": And most men will not believe though you desire it eagerly.
"12.104": And you do not ask them for a reward for this; it is nothing but a reminder for all mankind.
"12.105": And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth which they pass by, yet they turn aside from it.
"12.106": And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others (with Him).
"12.107": Do they then feel secure that there may come to them an extensive chastisement from Allah or (that) the hour may come to them suddenly while they do not perceive?
"12.108": Say: This is my way: I call to Allah, I and those who follow me being certain, and glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists.
"12.109": And We have not sent before you but men from (among) the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelations. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the hereafter is best for those who guard (against evil); do you not then understand?
"12.110": Until when the apostles despaired and the people became sure that they were indeed told a lie, Our help came to them and whom We pleased was delivered; and Our punishment is not averted from the guilty people.
"12.111": In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of understanding. It is not a narrative which could be forged, but a verification of what is before it and a distinct explanation of all things and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe.

"The Thunder"


In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
"13.1": Alif Lam Mim Ra. These are the verses of the Book; and that which is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, but most people do not believe.
"13.2": Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you see, and He is firm in power and He made the sun and the moon subservient (to you); each one pursues its course to an appointed time; He regulates the affair, making clear the signs that you may be certain of meeting your Lord.
"13.3": And He it is Who spread the earth and made in it firm mountains and rivers, and of all fruits He has made in it two kinds; He makes the night cover the day; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
"13.4": And in the earth there are tracts side by side and gardens of grapes and corn and palm trees having one root and (others) having distinct roots -- they are watered with one water, and We make some of them excel others in fruit; most surely there are signs in this for a people who understand.
"13.5": And if you would wonder, then wondrous is their saying: What! when we are dust, shall we then certainly be in a new creation? These are they who disbelieve in their Lord, and these have chains on their necks, and they are the inmates of the fire; in it they shall abide.
"13.6": And they ask you to hasten on the evil before the good, and indeed there have been exemplary punishments before them; and most surely your Lord is the Lord of forgiveness to people, notwithstanding their injustice; and most surely your Lord is severe in requiting (evil).
"13.7": And those who disbelieve say: Why has not a sign been sent down upon him from his Lord? You are only a warner and (there is) a guide for every people.
"13.8": Allah knows what every female bears, and that of which the wombs fall short of completion and that in which they increase; and there is a measure with Him of everything.
"13.9": The knower of the unseen and the seen, the Great, the Most High.
"13.10": Alike (to Him) among you is he who conceals (his) words and he who speaks them openly, and he who hides himself by night and (who) goes forth by day.
"13.11": For his sake there are angels following one another, before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's commandment; surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition; and when Allah intends evil to a people, there is no averting it, and besides Him they have no protector.
"13.12": He it is Who shows you the lightning causing fear and hope and (Who) brings up the heavy cloud.
"13.13": And the thunder declares His glory with His praise, and the angels too for awe of Him; and He sends the thunderbolts and smites with them whom He pleases, yet they dispute concerning Allah, and He is mighty in prowess.
"13.14": To Him is due the true prayer; and those whom they pray to besides Allah give them no answer, but (they are) like one who stretches forth his two hands towards water that it may reach his mouth, but it will not reach it; and the prayer of the unbelievers is only in error.
"13.15": And whoever is in the heavens and the earth makes obeisance to Allah only, willingly and unwillingly, and their shadows too at morn and eve.
"13.16": Say: Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth? -- Say: Allah. Say: Do you take then besides Him guardians who do not control any profit or harm for themselves? Say: Are the blind and the seeing alike? Or can the darkness and the light be equal? Or have they set up with Allah associates who have created creation like His, so that what is created became confused to them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.
"13.17": He sends down water from the cloud, then watercourses flow (with water) according to their measure, and the torrent bears along the swelling foam, and from what they melt in the fire for the sake of making ornaments or apparatus arises a scum like it; thus does Allah compare truth and falsehood; then as for the scum, it passes away as a worthless thing; and as for that which profits the people, it tarries in the earth; thus does Allah set forth parables.
"13.18": For those who respond to their Lord is good; and (as for) those who do not respond to Him, had they all that is in the earth and the like thereof with it they would certainly offer it for a ransom. (As for) those, an evil reckoning shall be theirs and their abode is hell, and evil is the resting-place.
"13.19": Is he then who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like him who is blind? Only those possessed of understanding will mind,
"13.20": Those who fulfil the promise of Allah and do not break the covenant,
"13.21": And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning.
"13.22": And those who are constant, seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them secretly and openly and repel evil with good; as for those, they shall have the (happy) issue of the abode
"13.23": The gardens of perpetual abode which they will enter along with those who do good from among their parents and their spouses and their offspring; and the angels will enter in upon them from every gate:
"13.24": Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode.
"13.25": And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut asunder that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; (as for) those, upon them shall be curse and they shall have the evil (issue) of the abode.
"13.26": Allah amplifies and straightens the means of subsistence for whom He pleases; and they rejoice in this world's life, and this world's life is nothing compared with the hereafter but a temporary enjoyment.
"13.27": And those who disbelieve say: Why is not a sign sent down upon him by his Lord? Say: Surely Allah makes him who will go astray, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).
"13.28": Those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah; now surely by Allah's remembrance are the hearts set at rest.
"13.29": (As for) those who believe and do good, a good final state shall be theirs and a goodly return.
"13.30": And thus We have sent you among a nation before which other nations have passed away, that you might recite to them what We have revealed to you and (still) they deny the Beneficent God. Say: He is my Lord, there is no god but He; on Him do I rely and to Him is my return.
"13.31": And even if there were a Quran with which the mountains were made to pass away, or the earth were travelled over with it, or the dead were made to speak thereby; nay! the commandment is wholly Allah's, Have not yet those who believe known that if Allah please He would certainly guide all the people? And (as for) those who disbelieve, there will not cease to afflict them because of what they do a repelling calamity, or it will alight close by their abodes, until the promise of Allah comes about; surely Allah will not fail in (His) promise.
"13.32": And apostles before you were certainly mocked at, but I gave respite to those who disbelieved, then I destroyed them; how then was My requital (of evil)?
"13.33": Is He then Who watches every soul as to what it earns? And yet they give associates to Allah! Say: Give them a name; nay, do you mean to inform Him of what He does not know in the earth, or (do you affirm this) by an outward saying? Rather, their plans are made to appear fair-seeming to those who disbelieve, and they are kept back from the path; and whom Allah makes err, he shall have no guide.
"13.34": They shall have chastisement in this world's life, and the chastisement of the hereafter is certainly more grievous, and they shall have no protector against Allah.
"13.35": A likeness of the garden which the righteous are promised; there now beneath it rivers, its food and shades are perpetual; this is the requital of those who guarded (against evil), and the requital of the unbelievers is the fire.
"13.36": And those to whom We have given the Book rejoice in that which has been revealed to you, and of the confederates are some who deny a part of it. Say: I am only commanded that I should serve Allah and not associate anything with Him, to Him do I invite (you) and to Him is my return.
"13.37": And thus have We revealed it, a true judgment in Arabic, and if you follow their low desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you shall not have against Allah any guardian or a protector.
"13.38": And certainly We sent apostles before you and gave them wives and children, and it is not in (the power of) an apostle to bring a sign except by Allah's permission; for every term there is an appointment.
"13.39": Allah makes to pass away and establishes what He pleases, and with Him is the basis of the Book.
"13.40": And We will either let you see part of what We threaten them with or cause you to die, for only the delivery of the message is (incumbent) on you, while calling (them) to account is Our (business).
"13.41": Do they not see that We are bringing destruction upon the land by curtailing it of its sides? And Allah pronounces a doom -- there is no repeller of His decree, and He is swift to take account.
"13.42": And those before them did indeed make plans, but all planning is Allah's; He knows what every soul earns, and the unbelievers shall come to know for whom is the (better) issue of the abode.
"13.43": And those who disbelieve say: You are not a messenger. Say: Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you and whoever has knowledge of the Book.

"Abraham"


In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
"14.1": Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring forth men, by their Lord's permission from utter darkness into light -- to the way of the Mighty, the Praised One,
"14.2": (Of) Allah, Whose is whatever is in the heavens and whatever Is in the earth; and woe to the unbelievers on account of the severe chastisement,
"14.3": (To) those who love this world's life more than the hereafter, and turn away from Allah's path and desire to make it crooked; these are in a great error.
"14.4": And We did not send any apostle but with the language of his people, so that he might explain to them clearly; then Allah makes whom He pleases err and He guides whom He pleases and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
"14.5": And certainly We sent Musa with Our communications, saying: Bring forth your people from utter darkness into light and remind them of the days of Allah; most surely there are signs in this for every patient, grateful one.
"14.6": And when Musa said to his people: Call to mind Allah's favor to you when He delivered you from Firon's people, who subjected you to severe torment, and slew your sons and spared your women; and in this there was a great trial from your Lord.
"14.7": And when your Lord made it known: If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more, and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.
"14.8": And Musa said: If you are ungrateful, you and those on earth all together, most surely Allah is Self-sufficient, Praised;
"14.9": Has not the account reached you of those before you, of the people of Nuh and Ad and Samood, and those after them? None knows them but Allah. Their apostles come to them with clear arguments, but they thrust their hands into their mouths and said: Surely we deny that with which you are sent, and most surely we are in serious doubt as to that to which you invite us.
"14.10": Their apostles said: Is there doubt about Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? He invites you to forgive you your faults and to respite you till an appointed term. They said: You are nothing but mortals like us; you wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship; bring us therefore some clear authority.
"14.11": Their apostles said to them: We are nothing but mortals like yourselves, but Allah bestows (His) favors on whom He pleases of His servants, and it is not for us that we should bring you an authority except by Allah's permission; and on Allah should the believers rely.
"14.12": And what reason have we that we should not rely on Allah? And He has indeed guided us in our ways; and certainly we would bear with patience your persecution of us; and on Allah should the reliant rely.
"14.13": And those who disbelieved said to their apostles: We will most certainly drive you forth from our land, or else you shall come back into our religion. So their Lord revealed to them: Most certainly We will destroy the unjust.
"14.14": And most certainly We will settle you in the land after them; this is for him who fears standing in My presence and who fears My threat.
"14.15": And they asked for judgment and every insolent opposer was disappointed:
"14.16": Hell is before him and he shall be given to drink of festering water:
"14.17": He will drink it little by little and will not be able to swallow it agreeably, and death will come to him from every quarter, but he shall not die; and there shall be vehement chastisement before him.
"14.18": The parable of those who disbelieve in their Lord: their actions are like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day; they shall not have power over any thing out of what they have earned; this is the great error.
"14.19": Do you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth? If He please He will take you off and bring a new creation,
"14.20": And this is not difficult for Allah.
"14.21": And they shall all come forth before Allah, then the weak shall say to those who were proud: Surely we were your followers, can you therefore avert from us any part of the chastisement of Allah? They would say: If Allah had guided us, we too would have guided you; it is the same to us whether we are impatient (now) or patient, there is no place for us to fly to.
"14.22": And the Shaitan shall say after the affair is decided: Surely Allah promised you the promise of truth, and I gave you promises, then failed to keep them to you, and I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you obeyed me, therefore do not blame me but blame yourselves: I cannot be your aider (now) nor can you be my aiders; surely I disbelieved in your associating me with Allah before; surely it is the unjust that shall have the painful punishment.
"14.23": And those who believe and do good are made to enter gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them by their Lord's permission; their greeting therein is, Peace.
"14.24": Have you not considered how Allah sets forth a parable of a good word (being) like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches are in heaven,
"14.25": Yielding its fruit in every season by the permission of its Lord? And Allah sets forth parables for men that they may be mindful.
"14.26": And the parable of an evil word is as an evil tree pulled up from the earth's surface; it has no stability.
"14.27": Allah confirms those who believe with the sure word in this world's life and in the hereafter, and Allah causes the unjust to go astray, and Allah does what He pleases.
"14.28": Have you not seen those who have changed Allah's favor for ungratefulness and made their people to alight into the abode of perdition
"14.29": (Into) hell? They shall enter into it and an evil place it is to settle in.
"14.30": And they set up equals with Allah that they may lead (people) astray from His path. Say: Enjoy yourselves, for surely your return is to the fire.
"14.31": Say to My servants who believe that they should keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them secretly and openly before the coming of the day in which there shall be no bartering nor mutual befriending.
"14.32": Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the clouds, then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has made the ships subservient to you, that they might run their course in the sea by His command, and He has made the rivers subservient to you.
"14.33": And He has made subservient to you the sun and the moon pursuing their courses, and He has made subservient to you the night and the day.
"14.34": And He gives you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful.
"14.35": And when Ibrahim said: My Lord! make this city secure, and save me and my sons from worshiping idols:
"14.36": My Lord! surely they have led many men astray; then whoever follows me, he is surely of me, and whoever disobeys me, Thou surely arc Forgiving, Merciful:
"14.37": O our Lord! surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley unproductive of fruit near Thy Sacred House, our Lord! that they may keep up prayer; therefore make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; haply they may be grateful:
"14.38": O our Lord! Surely Thou knowest what we hide and what we make public, and nothing in the earth nor any thing in heaven is hidden from Allah:
"14.39": Praise be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Ismail and Ishaq; most surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer:
"14.40": My Lord! make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer:
"14.41": O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass!
"14.42": And do not think Allah to be heedless of what the unjust do; He only respites them to a day on which the eyes shall be fixedly open,
"14.43": Hastening forward, their heads upraised, their eyes not reverting to them and their hearts vacant.
"14.44": And warn people of the day when the chastisement shall come to them, then those who were unjust will say: O our Lord! respite us to a near term, (so) we shall respond to Thy call and follow the apostles. What! did you not swear before (that) there will be no passing away for you!
"14.45": And you dwell in the abodes of those who were unjust to themselves, and it is clear to you how We dealt with them and We have made (them) examples to you.
"14.46": And they have indeed planned their plan, but their plan is with Allah, though their plan was such that the mountains should pass away thereby.
"14.47": Therefore do not think Allah (to be one) failing in His promise to His apostles; surely Allah is Mighty, the Lord of Retribution.
"14.48": On the day when the earth shall be changed into a different earth, and the heavens (as well), and they shall come forth before Allah, the One, the Supreme.
"14.49": And you will see the guilty on that day linked together in chains.
"14.50": Their shirts made of pitch and the fire covering their faces
"14.51": That Allah may requite each soul (according to) what it has earned; surely Allah is swift in reckoning.
"14.52": This is a sufficient exposition for the people and that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is One God and that those possessed of understanding may mind.

"The Rock"


In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
"15.1": Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Quran that makes (things) clear.
"15.2": Often will those who disbelieve wish that they had been Muslims.
"15.3": Leave them that they may eat and enjoy themselves and (that) hope may beguile them, for they will soon know.
"15.4": And never did We destroy a town but it had a term made known.
"15.5": No people can hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it).
"15.6": And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! you are most surely insane:
"15.7": Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones?
"15.8": We do not send the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited.
"15.9": Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian.
"15.10": And certainly We sent (apostles) before you among the nations of yore.
"15.11": And there never came an apostle to them but they mocked him.
"15.12": Thus do We make it to enter into the hearts of the guilty;
"15.13": They do not believe in it, and indeed the example of the former people has already passed.
"15.14": And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while,
"15.15": They would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people.
"15.16": And certainly We have made strongholds in the heaven and We have made it fair seeming to the beholders.
"15.17": And We guard it against every accursed Shaitan,
"15.18": But he who steals a hearing, so there follows him a visible flame.
"15.19": And the earth -- We have spread it forth and made in it firm mountains and caused to grow in it of every suitable thing.
"15.20": And We have made in it means of subsistence for you and for him for whom you are not the suppliers.
"15.21": And there is not a thing but with Us are the treasures of it, and We do not send it down but in a known measure.
"15.22": And We send the winds fertilizing, then send down water from the cloud so We give it to you to drink of, nor is it you who store it up.
"15.23": And most surely We bring to life and cause to die and We are the heirs.
"15.24": And certainly We know those of you who have gone before and We certainly know those who shall come later.
"15.25": And surely your Lord will gather them together; surely He is Wise, Knowing.
"15.26": And certainly We created man of clay that gives forth sound, of black mud fashioned in shape.
"15.27": And the jinn We created before, of intensely hot fire.
"15.28": And when your Lord said to the angels: Surely I am going to create a mortal of the essence of black mud fashioned in shape.
"15.29": So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, fall down making obeisance to him.
"15.30": So the angels made obeisance, all of them together,
"15.31": But Iblis (did it not); he refused to be with those who made obeisance.
"15.32": He said: O Iblis! what excuse have you that you are not with those who make obeisance?
"15.33": He said: I am not such that I should make obeisance to a mortal whom Thou hast created of the essence of black mud fashioned in shape.
"15.34": He said: Then get out of it, for surely you are driven away:
"15.35": And surely on you is curse until the day of judgment.
"15.36": He said: My Lord! then respite me till the time when they are raised.
"15.37": He said: So surely you are of the respited ones
"15.38": Till the period of the time made known.
"15.39": He said: My Lord! because Thou hast made life evil to me, I will certainly make (evil) fair-seeming to them on earth, and I will certainly cause them all to deviate
"15.40": Except Thy servants from among them, the devoted ones.
"15.41": He said: This is a right way with Me:
"15.42": Surely. as regards My servants, you have no authority ,over them except those who follow you of the deviators.
"15.43": And surely Hell is the promised place of them all:
"15.44": It has seven gates; for every gate there shall be a separate party of them.
"15.45": Surely those who guard (against evil) shall be in the midst of gardens and fountains:
"15.46": Enter them in peace, secure.
"15.47": And We will root out whatever of rancor is in their breasts -- (they shall be) as brethren, on raised couches, face to face.
"15.48": Toil shall not afflict them in it, nor shall they be ever ejected from it.
"15.49": Inform My servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,
"15.50": And that My punishment -- that is the painful punishment.
"15.51": And inform them of the guests of Ibrahim:
"15.52": When they entered upon him, they said, Peace. He said: Surely we are afraid of you.
"15.53": They said: Be not afraid, surely we give you the good news of a boy, possessing knowledge.
"15.54": He said: Do you give me good news (of a son) when old age has come upon me? -- Of what then do you give me good news!
"15.55": . They said: We give you good news with truth, therefore be not of the despairing.
"15.56": He said: And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord but the erring ones?
"15.57": He said: What is your business then, O messengers?
"15.58": They said: Surely we are sent towards a guilty people,
"15.59": Except Lut's followers: We will most surely deliver them all,
"15.60": Except his wife; We ordained that she shall surely be of those who remain behind.
"15.61": So when the messengers came to Lut's followers,
"15.62": He said: Surely you are an unknown people.
"15.63": They said: Nay, we have come to you with that about which they disputed.
"15.64": And we have come to you with the truth, and we are most surely truthful.
"15.65": Therefore go forth with your followers in a part of the night and yourself follow their rear, and let not any one of you turn round, and go forth whither you are commanded.
"15.66": And We revealed to him this decree, that the roots of these shall be cut off in the morning.
"15.67": And the people of the town came rejoicing.
"15.68": He said: Surely these are my guests, therefore do not disgrace me,
"15.69": And guard against (the punishment of) Allah and do not put me to shame.
"15.70": They said: Have we not forbidden you from (other) people?
"15.71": He said: These are my daughters, if you will do (aught).
"15.72": By your life! they were blindly wandering on in their intoxication.
"15.73": So the rumbling overtook them (while) entering upon the time of sunrise;
"15.74": Thus did We turn it upside down, and rained down upon them stones of what had been decreed.
"15.75": Surely in this are signs for those who examine.
"15.76": And surely it is on a road that still abides.
"15.77": Most surely there is a sign in this for the believers.
"15.78": And the dwellers of the thicket also were most surely unjust.
"15.79": So We inflicted retribution on them, and they are both, indeed, on an open road (still) pursued.
"15.80": And the dwellers of the Rock certainly rejected the messengers;
"15.81": And We gave them Our communications, but they turned aside from them;
"15.82": And they hewed houses in the mountains in security.
"15.83": So the rumbling overtook them in the morning;
"15.84": And what they earned did not avail them.
"15.85": And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them two but in truth; and the hour is most surely coming, so turn away with kindly forgiveness.
"15.86": Surely your Lord is the Creator of all things, the Knowing.
"15.87": And certainly We have given you seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the grand Quran.
"15.88": Do not strain your eyes after what We have given certain classes of them to enjoy, and do not grieve for them, and make yourself gentle to the believers.
"15.89": And say: Surely I am the plain warner.
"15.90": Like as We sent down on the dividers
"15.91": Those who made the Quran into shreds.
"15.92": So, by your Lord, We would most certainly question them all,
"15.93": As to what they did.
"15.94": Therefore declare openly what you are bidden and turn aside from the polytheists.
"15.95": Surely We will suffice you against the scoffers
"15.96": Those who set up another god with Allah; so they shall soon know.
"15.97": And surely We know that your breast straightens at what they say;
"15.98": Therefore celebrate the praise of your Lord, and be of those who make obeisance.
"15.99": And serve your Lord until there comes to you that which is certain.